Lela C Carlton

Lela was born in Grand Prairie, Texas to Mabel Jewel Cribbs and Gordon “Buck” Cribbs on December 21, 1935. She graduated from Grand Prairie High School. After high school she worked as a legal secretary in Dallas, Texas where she began a correspondence with a lonely sailor serving in the South Pacific. Despite frequent requests she refused to give him a photograph of herself until she met him in person. Upon docking in California, he drove his Karmann Ghia cross country to Grand Prairie to meet her. This correspondence led to a marriage of nearly 65 years and two children.

She was a long-time resident of Bartow, Florida where she raised her family and worked at Citrus & Chemical Bank for 30 years, ending her career in banking as the V.P. of Human Resources. She also volunteered with children and found this work one of the most rewarding things she ever did.

When her husband took over the family ranch she relocated with him to Sarasota, FL.

Lela was preceded in death by her parents, Mabel Jewel and Gordon “Buck” Cribbs, her sisters Pauline Duty and Bettie LaJoie, her brother Ernest Cribbs, and her granddaughter, Kiera Elise Guertin.

Lela is survived by her husband, Anthony G. “Tony” Carlton, daughter Lisa Ann Carlton Guertin (Brian) of Lakeland, FL, son Steven G. Carlton (Stacey) of Deland, FL; and granddaughter Kaitlyn Eileen Guertin of Fort Collins, CO.

Lela loved singing in church choirs, her Texas Heritage, being a Navy Wife but most of all she loved her family. At the end of her life she was most concerned about their well-being. She was fiercely loyal to her family, a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and Christian. She was a member of Church of the Palms in Sarasota. Lela will be greatly missed.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, September 27 at Old Miakka Church Cemetery, 1620 Myakka Road, Sarasota, FL 34240.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lela's memory may be made to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, www.hopkinsmedicine.org.